DiscoverANAN 7AN 7.8

The Buddha teaches on fetters, describing the seven fetters and how they bind or afflict beings on the path.

AN 7.8 Fetters

“Sattimāni, bhikkhave, saṁyojanāni. Katamāni satta? Anunayasaṁyojanaṁ, paṭighasaṁyojanaṁ, diṭṭhisaṁyojanaṁ, vicikicchāsaṁyojanaṁ, mānasaṁyojanaṁ, bhavarāgasaṁyojanaṁ, avijjāsaṁyojanaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, satta saṁyojanānī”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Sattimāni, bhikkhave, saṁyojanāni.

“Mendicants, there are these seven fetters.

Katamāni satta?

What seven?

Anunayasaṁyojanaṁ, paṭighasaṁyojanaṁ, diṭṭhisaṁyojanaṁ, vicikicchāsaṁyojanaṁ, mānasaṁyojanaṁ, bhavarāgasaṁyojanaṁ, avijjāsaṁyojanaṁ.

The fetters of attraction, aversion, views, doubt, conceit, desire for continued existence, and ignorance.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, satta saṁyojanānī”ti.

These are the seven fetters.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Aversion

Aversion

☁️ dark quality

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Conceit

Conceit

☁️ dark quality

Self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth

Also known as: arrogance, egotism, pride, self-importance, tendency of self-comparison
Pāli: māna, atimāna, unnaḷa
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Delusion

Delusion

☁️ dark quality

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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Desire

Desire

topic
💠 neutral quality

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Doubt

Doubt

☁️ dark quality

Paralyzing indecision about the path or practice. Doubt obstructs confidence and clarity.

Also known as: confusion, indecisiveness, uncertainty, wavering, perplexity
Pāli: vicikiccha, kaṅkhā, vimati
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Ignorance

Ignorance

☁️ dark quality

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Last updated on July 27, 2026

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